Housebuilder Persimmon shrugs off Brexit fears

FORGET Brexit worries or a wobbling economy, people are still desperate to snap up homes, according to Persimmon boss Jeff Fairburn today.

The company says viewings are ahead by 12% on last year and forward sales for 2016 up 8% to £2.15 billion despite the looming June vote.

“There’s certainly been no impact so far,” Fairburn says. “Given affordable mortgages and the jobs market, we are seeing people very keen to buy.”

The City was less impressed, marking the shares down 4%, or 89p, to 1932p.

Shore Capital’s Robin Hardy said the rise in visitor numbers was lower than the 20% increase in mortgage approvals over the past year.